Product Description
For ages, Eddie Drood and his family have kept humanity safe from the things that go bump in the night. But now one of his own has convinced the rest of the family that Eddie’s become a menace, and that humanity needs to be protected from him. So he’s on the run, using every trick in the book, magical and otherwise, hoping he lives long enough to prove his innocence...
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 Yay A New Series!! ( marissa821 )
I am always so happy to discover a new series to enjoy!! I've breezed through the Dresden Files Series and Codex Alera series by Jim Butcher and have been looking for something new. Thankfully I found this book by Simon Green. I was slightly afraid that it would be just a re-worked version of the Dresden books. How nice that that wasn't the case!! I know I have a good book when I'm willing to not sleep the whole night in order to finish it.
The beginning is a little slow (or at least the first two chapters were for me) but by the fourth chapter things really pick up. I love the urban, sci-fi, mystery that's all mixed with magic, scientific gadgets and good ole fashioned sleuthing. Edwin Drood the main character is likeable but he isn't overly sweet and perfect and this just serves to make him a more plausible character that one can actually relate to. I cannot wait to start the second book!!
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 Ok, but not as good as the others
First I read the Nightside series and that was great; it was his best work and that made me a Simon R. Green fan. Then I read (what books I had) of the Deathstalker series; it was very good at parts, but tiresome at others. It was no Nightside. Now, I'm reading the man with the goden torc. It's Ok, but it seems as if the books are going downhill; Nightside is the best, Deathstalker is in second place, and now man with the golden torc. It seems as if he's trying to make another Nightside; same story, diferent people.
It would be great if he did what he's trying to do and write another Nightside, but instead of doing the exact same story with different people, the the Drood line has been going for centuries, so make an earlier version of the family. Have them have cruder versions of the high tec weapons and make them have more limitations on their stuff that they have to work out. Maybe set the whole thing set a few hundred years before they "discovered" America.
Just a thought.
Edward C. Jones III
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Truly an outstanding read in the dark fantsy genre ( f41171c )
Eddie Drood (aka Shaman Bond) is a trouble shooter for his family which protects mundnes in the world. He starts with a mission to terminate the pregnancy of a President who ha gotten himself knocked up by a not so minor demon and has checked into the Hospice of Saint Baphomet. Already you see some of the sometimes sly and other times broad humor in the book--the witness intimidation program is good too.. There is a ongoing send up of the James Bond Films as well; in particular the shoot out on M4. Then there is the watch that changes time instead of telling it--"if it breaks just use a little butter...only the best butter of course" shades of Lewis Carroll! The genre can use more humor.
The plot starts out looking pretty linear but takes a couple interesting turns and overall is excellent. The characters are very good; well drawn. Its nice to not have principal characters jump each other at every opportunity. The world building is first rate and pretty innovative. I found the description on the cover rather off putting and the cover has nothing whatsoever to do with the book. There was one annoying possible error, the use of inflammable to mean something that burns--it actually means something that doesn't burn--and hasn't been used in the old sense in North America sense the late `60s and the EU changed when the IEC standardized terminology. But compared to the often rampant editorial errors in recent books the author and editor are to be congratulated--and it could be sarcastic.
If you like dark fantasy you will love this--definitely and outstanding read.
BTW do you know who Arne Saknussemm and Cave Carson are?
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Retreads R Us ( cagekicker69 )
First off, let me just say that I am a fan of Mr Green's work, and have been for a number of years. I'm a particular fan of the Deathstalker series, and therein lies the problem. Let me explain...
In the Deathstalker series, the hero is Owen Deathstalker, member of a powerful family, who is declared "outlaw". He is cut off from all that he knew as a member of the aristrocracy, and is forced to reevaluate the system that he had always believed was for the good of the people. He allies himself with other outlaws, people he had always thought of as the lowest of the low, in his mission to bring down the Empire he had always fought to defend.
In "The Man With the Golden Torc", the hero is Edwin Drood (aka Shaman Bond), member of a powerful family, who is declared "rogue". He is cut off from all that he knew as an operative for the family who has defended normal people from all threats, supernatural and alien. Edwin is forced to reevaluate the system which he had always believed to be for the good of the people. He allies himself with other rogues, people he had always thought of as the lowest of the low, in his mission to bring down the Family he had always fought to defend.
Do you see my problem? In reading this book, I found myself constantly drawing comparisons between characters in each series (Valentine Wolf to Mr Stab, to name just one). I'm not saying that this is in any way an inferior book, it's just the same book in an "urban fantasy" as opposed to "science fiction."
Pick one of the above named series, but do yourself a favor and don't try reading them both. Repitition is great when you're trying to learn a new skill, but not so much when you're a best selling author.
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 Bad things Happen ( mommmmmma )
It takes a little while to get into this one but after the **** hits the fan it is absolutely wonderful. I really enjoyed it and I am going to look for the sequel.
Edwin (Eddie) Drood aka Shaman Bond is a secret agent for humanity. His family protects the world from all the evil out there. And there is alot of evil just waiting to jump on us poor old humans. Eddie, while somewhat of a rebel, is still upholding the morals and laws he was raised with. Imagine his surprise after a meeting with the matriarchial leader of the family, his grandmother, he is attacked by various and sundry evil doers and hears that he has been labeled a rogue agent.
With his whole family and alot of enemies after him, he sets out to find out what this is all about. Feeling that his enemies probably know what is going on he visits several with unusual consequences. Finally he hooks up with the infamous witch Molly Metcalfe. These two have tried to kill each other numerous times but now they find themselves with a common enemy, the Drood family.
I loved the humor, the panache, and the just outright idiocy of this book. After you get through the first few chapters it is a very delightful read.
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